Internet rights activists are in Brasilia today to pressure the National Congress to approve the Brazilian bill of rights for Internet users, known as the Marco Civil. One of them is former Global Voices collaborator Diego Casaes, who works with global civic organization Avaaz and wrote on Facebook [pt] before heading to the capital city:

Today Avaaz joined the great Gilberto Gil [a famous musician and former Minister of Culture] and many movements and civil rights organizations in a campaign that concerns us all: the adoption of the Marco Civil with the defense of net neutrality.

I have been following the Marco Civil for more than three years, from the process of online public consultation until the day that the bill entered the Chamber of Deputies. The vote has been postponed at least 10 times, which demonstrates a Homeric struggle between civil society and telecommunications companies. On our side, members of parliament who defend net freedom and a series of civil movements that have fought against several Goliath billionaires; on the other side, the Goliaths, the companies that control the structure of telecommunications in Brazil, and that profit absurdly every year, even if they offer inefficient service.

This week a lot can change: if we pass the Marco Civil (guaranteeing net neutrality) we will take a giant step forward in the fight for our privacy, our rights, and to maintain the democratic nature of the Internet.

I am with Gil, and already signed. And I'm going to talk to the deputies in Brasilia on Wednesday. So I ask you: sign and have the assurance that there will be people committed to our rights, arguing, talking and enforcing the people's voice in Congress before the vote.